PITTSBURGH (AP) The Pirates have hired Junior Vizcaino as their director of international scouting.

Vizcaino spent last season as global crosschecker for the Boston Red Sox. Vizcaino previously spent 17 years with the Kansas City Royals, including a decade as the team's national supervisor.

Pittsburgh last month parted with Rene Gayo, its longtime director of Latin American scouting. Major League Baseball cited rules violations by Gayo. The Athletic reported Gayo accepted an improper payment.